Chattanooga Basketball Postgame Notes
Mercer at Chattanooga
McKenzie Arena – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Thursday – Jan. 17, 2019

TEAM
- Chattanooga scored a 73-70 win over Mercer in McKenzie Arena tonight.  Mocs improve to 9-10 overall and 4-2 in SoCon action … Bears drop to 6-12 and 1-5 in league play.

- 33-37 all-time against Mercer … 19-11 at home … 5-4 in the SoCon regular season … snapped a three-game skid in the series … last win was Jan. 14, 2017 (70-68) in Macon … last home win was Jan. 5, 2016 (74-62).

- UTC held off a hot-shooting Mercer team that was 9-18 (50%) from three-point range tonight.

- Both teams held eight point leads in the game … no gap reached double-figures … eight ties and 11 lead changes … most this season … four ties and five lead changes in the last 10 minutes.   

- Mocs used a 10-0 run late in the first half to turn a 26-24 deficit into a 34-36 lead with 3:45 left.  

- 13 threes tied for second-most this season … ninth time this season with double-digit three pointers … 7-2 in those games … eight of those have been in the last 11 games. 

- Second night in a row UTC has won a game when allowing 70+ points … 0-8 this season prior to that. 

- Seven turnovers tied a season low … fewest coughed up against a Division I opponent. 

- Mocs improve to 2-4 in games decided by single digits. 

- Mercer outscored UTC 32-18 in the paint.

- Battle on the boards was close with Mercer holding a 36-34 edge … second-chance gap was bigger with the Bears doubling-up UTC 14-7. 

INDIVIDUAL
Head Coach Lamont Paris
- 19-33 in his second season.
- 7-17 in SoCon play.
- 15-9 at home.
- 1-2 vs. Mercer.

Kevin Easley – 33 – Fr.-F
- First career double-double with 11 points and a game-high 10 boards.
- Shot 3-11 from the field, 2-6 from three and 3-4 from the FT line.
- Hit two crucial FTs at the end of the game.
- 16th game in double-figures … sixth in a row.
- 14-24 (58.3%) from three last four games.

David Jean-Baptiste – 3 – So. – G
- 11 points and tied for game-high with four assists.
- Shot 3-6 from the field, 3-5 from three and 2-2 from the FT line.
- Ninth game in double-figures scoring.
- Added three boards.

Jerry Johnson, Jr. – 2 – Jr. – G
- Team-high 15 points.
- Shot 6-10 from the field, 3-6 from three.
- First time in double-figures in five outings … 10^th this season.
- Came into the game 3-11 (27.3%) from three last four games.
- Added two assists.

Thomas Smallwood – 33 – Sr.-C
- Hit his only three attempt in the game.
- Added two boards in four minutes off the bench.
- 19-36 (52.8%) from three on the year.

Donovann Toatley – 5 – Fr.-G
- 13 points in 26 minutes off the bench.
- Tied for team-high with four assists.
- Shot 5-12 from the field, 2-6 from three and 1-2 from the FT line.
- 11th game in double-figures … sixth time in last seven games.
- Added two boards.

Ramon Vila – 15 – So.-F
- Nine points and four boards.
- Shot 4-6 from the field and 1-3 from the FT line.
- Drew five fouls while not committing any.
- Tied a season-high with two blocks.
- Blocked Ross Cummings' driving shot in the lane on the Bears next-to-last possession with 20 seconds remaining and the Mocs clinging to a 71-70 lead. 
- Added two assists.